Caribbean Net News: Protesting Trinidad doctors back on the job

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Protesting doctors at the public health institutions in Trinidad and Tobago are back on the job after withholding their services and threatening mass resignations.

The doctors returned to work on Thursday, preventing further disruption to health care in the country. The deal was struck one hour before public health doctors attached to the Medical Professional Association of Trinidad threatened to resign.

The doctors had been pressing for parity, remuneration they said were not on par with their Regional Health Authorities colleagues. They were also calling for payment of back-pay for 2003 and 2004. They had given Health Minister John Raheal 48 hours to meet their demands, a deadline that expired at 4 pm on Thursday.

But around 3 pm the Health Minister announced, during the weekly post cabinet meeting, that the situation had been normalised. This followed a written commitment by the ministry that the issue relating to outstanding pay and parity will be settled.

Although the matter appears to have been settled, Health Minister John Raheal told reporters that contingency plans would remain in place in the event any resignations were forthcoming.

On Thursday health officials met in emergency session to deal with the issue.

Earlier, the Minister responded to the threat by doctors by saying the government would not be threatened and that doctors could go if they so desired.

But, according to a written commitment by Ministry officials, the issue of parity and outstanding back pay is expected to be settled by end of January 2007.

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